Linotype-machine.



. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. P. T. DODGE. LINOTYPE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31. 1904.

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. 'PATENTED Moi-2s, 1905. P; T. DODGE. LINOTYPE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, 1904.

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mess j STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- PHILIP T. DODGE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR .TO MERGEN-- THALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATIONFOF NEW] YORK.

' LINOTYPE-rM-AOHINE.

Specification of LettersjE 'atent.

Patented Nov.28, 1905.

I Application filed December 31, 1904:. $erial'No. 239.116.

T aZZ whom, it vmar/y concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP T. Dopen, of

Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Im 1 of this class of machines the matrices are dehas reached the line.

livered to the line in course of composition in very rapid succession, and it is of great im-' portance that the operator shouldbe able to recognize instantly the last character which This is desirable, because the operator is frequently in doubt as v to the last letter designated by him and also because the mechanism occasionally fails to deliver the matrices properly. Heretofore it has been customary to provide the'matrices on the rear edge which faces the operator.

with small characters or letters corresponding to the operative characters in the opposite operative edge with'the idea'of permitting the operator to read the matter in-the line as composition progresses. Owing to the extreme smallness of these extracharacters, commonly known as reference characters or.

reading characters, which are necessarily restricted within the thin edges of the matrices, the fact that machines are frequently operated where the light is defective, and to the: further fact that thematrices become oxidized and darkened, so that the characters cannot be readily distinguished, theyare of little service to the operator and frequent delay and annoyance result.

It is the aim of my invention to overcome this trouble and provide reading characters of large size which may be instantly distinguished by the compositor as they are added totheline and while he is seated in his usual position at the keyboard.- To this end I 10- cate the reference letters or characters on the broad side faces of the matrices. In this location they may be made of very large size, so that. they may be easily read, and as each matrix adjoining the line covers the side of the preceding matrix the view of the operator may be concentrated without confusion or distraction upon the one letter at the end of the line. readingof the characters, I propose to make use of an electric light or similar light arranged to concentrate its rays upon the reading character of the end matrix for the double purpose of rendering it more legible and" of directing the eye of the operator to the required point. connection a reflecting device by which the image of the matrix is reflected forward or in such direction as may be necessary to per mit a free view on the part of the operator without changing his position.

In the drawings I have shown my invention applied to a Mergenthaler linotype-machine such as is now 1n commercial use.

It is understood that the details may be modified within the range of mechanical skill without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view'of a matrix such as used in the standard commercial linotype-machine looking against the rear or reading edge with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. l is a perspective view of the same matrix looking against the front or operative edge. Fig. 2 is a view of the matrix, such as used in the Rogers typograph-machine ofthe present day, with my improvement applied. Fig. 3 is aface view of a linotype assembling mechanism including my improvements. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the same from right to left on the correspondingly-numbered line of Figs. 5-and 6. Fig. 5 is a hori- In order to further facilitate the I also propose'to use in this zontal section on the correspondingly-numbered line of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical crossmain in all respects of ordinary construction.

Applying my improvement Iform on the right side face a large reading character a which may be stamped or etched therein or otherwise formed therein or applied thereto. This character, which corresponds with the character a, is made of very much greater size, preferably of the largest size which the surface of the matrix will admit. It will be observed that the large character is on the right side of the matrix, being the side which is nearest the assembling device D and the side exposed toward the compositor when the matrix stands at the end of the composed line, so that as each matrix is added to the line it covers and conceals the character on the side of. the preceding matrix.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, inclusive, B represents an inclined carrying-belt upon which the matrices are successively delivered as they are released from the magazine. C is the socalled assembling-elevator, having a channel to receive the matrices and aline them side by side on end as they are delivered therein. D is a rotary star-wheel by which the descending matrices are forced laterally into the assembler and the composed line pushed forward step by step in order to leave room at the right hand for the admission of additional matrices. The star-wheel and adjacent parts are covered, as shown, by a glass front plate, through which the interior parts and the side face of the end matrix may be seen, as usual, and the large character thereon instantly distinguished. The foregoing parts may all be constructed and arranged to operate in the usual manner. The assembling-elevator is open, preferably at the top, and also slotted at the front and open at the right end, as usual and as shown in the drawings, thus exposing the right-hand face of the matrix, which is for the time being at the end of the line, and the large reading character thereon. This character, which by reason of its size may be instantly distinguished, will enable the operator to determine the last character in the line and also whether or not the machine has responded to the last key touched by him.

As there is more or less obstruction of the view of attendant parts and as the side face of the matrix is to some extent in shadow, I propose to insert in the frame of the machine a small incandescent electric light E, with an opening 6 therethrough toward the end matrix, the arrangement being such as to concentrate the rays wholly or mainly on the reading character of the end matrix. This point being emphasized by the light and the character illuminated, the eye of the operator is directed to the character, which may be instantly distinguished, so that the operator may continue the composition of the line with certainty and without hesitation or loss of time. In order that the operator may more readily observe the character without chang ing his position, I propose toprovide a reflector F in such position that it will receive an image of the reading character on the side of the end matrix and direct the same forward through an opening G in the front of the machine in such position that it may be readily viewed by the operator, as shown in Fig. L, in which the character M is the image of the character on the side face of the end matrix in the line.

The small reading character a may be retained on the forward edges of the matrices, if desired, in order to enable the operator to read the entire line and determine whether characters are omitted or transposed.

The matrix shown in Fig. 2 is of the ordinary form used in the Rogers typograph, or linotype junior, so called. It has a long shank, is suspended at the upper end, and with the matrix proper, a, in one edge near the lower end. I provide this matrix with the large reading character a on the side face. These matrices are assembled in the machine such as shown in United States Patent No. 679,481 with the side face away from the operator and provided with my reading character and With a suitable reflector, that the operator may be enabled to determine what matrices are contained in the line, a matter which is now impossible.

The location of the reading character on the side face of the matrix next to the assembling devices is important, first, because it can be made of such size as to be instantly recog nized during the most speedy composition, and, second, because its location indicates to the operator that it is the last character in the line. The employment of the reading characters on the rear edge is advantageous, because they enable the operator to observe all the characters assembled in the line, so that he may determine as to the need for corrections before the line is carried to the casting mechanism.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A linotype-matrix provided with an inverted matrix character in the forward edge and with a large non-inverted reading character on its right side face, substantially as described, whereby plain indication will be given of the last character in the line as composition progresses.

2. A linotype-matrix having in'one edge the matrix proper, at the opposite edge a corresponding reading character, and on the side face a large reading character arranged, as

posing devices; whereby the character'sjadded to the line are clearly and successively indicated.

4:. In combination, a composing mechanismadapted to assemble successive matrices side by side in line, and matrices each having. in the edgetoward the operator a reading char acter, in the opposite edge the matrix proper,

' and on the side nearest the assembling devices the same character of large size; whereby the operator is enabled to determine instantly the last character in the line and also enabled to read connectedly all the characters in the line.

5. In a linotype-machine, the combination of matrices having their matrix-characters in one edge and reading characters on one side, means r'or assembling them in line, means for illuminating the side face of the terminal matrix, and means for reflecting the image of said character.

6. Ina linotype or kindred machine, matrices having reading charactersin one side, means for assembling them in line, and means for reflecting the" image of the character on the side of the end matrix in an angular direction.

7. In alinotype-machine, matrices having 'matrixcharacters in their edges and reading characters on their sides, in combination with means for assembling them side by side in line, and means for projecting light upon the side of the end matrix;

1 In testimony whereof I hereunto set my 1 hand, this 30th day of December, 1904, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

PHILIP T. DODGE.

Witnesses: 7

JOHN F. GEORGE, M. A.'DR1'EFILL. 

